Matt Henderson
Along with the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series that raced on Friday night at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn., events in other classes as well. Matt Henderson of London, Tenn. scored an impressive victory in the Limited Late Model class as he led the entire feature distance driving a Brucebilt car out of the stable of Cory Hedgecock. Also, Zach Sise won a thrilling Sportsman after exchanging the lead with another competitor.
Henderson demonstrated right away that he would be a force to reckon with as he bested the field of 14 drivers and cars in qualifying by posting a lap of 12.992 seconds around the third-mile clay oval. With the entire starting lineup for the feature race set via time-trials, Henderson was joined by Trevor Sise, Brad Coffey, Danny Yoder, Benji Shaw, Jason Manley, Andy Picklesimer and Johnny Ridings on the starting grid.
Henderson shot to the front immediately when the green flag waved to start the 25-lap main event with Coffey, Yoder and Shaw attempting to keep pace. By the end of the second lap the No. 23 car had build a lead of almost a full straightaway over the rest of the pack. Sise, who fell back on the initial start, began moving forward on the third lap when he passed by Picklesimer for fifth while in the midst of a tight battle among five cars within the top-10.
A lap 6 caution for the spinning car of Ridings bunched the field but that proved to be of little concern to Henderson as he once again pulled away when the green flag was displayed.
Sise again moved forward as he passed by Shaw to garner the fourth spot on lap 10 with Manley following along to capture fifth. However, Manley’s success would be short lived as the Limited Late Model points leader at I-75 pulled off track with mechanical troubles just two laps later.
Henderson drove a car normally piloted by Cory Hedgecock
Two more cautions would slow the action with the most significant being a spin by Sise that collected Shaw and Bobby Giffin. However, little was going to slow Henderson as he cruised under the checkered flag to grab the victory ahead of Coffey, Yoder, Matt Steward and Shaw.
In other racing action, Zach Sise won a thrilling Sportsman feature after a lead swapping battle with Terry Poore. Those two drivers started the feature from the front row with Poore taking the early lead. However, Sise fought back and seized the top spot after ten circuits. Unfortunately, a string of cautions plagued what was meant to be the race’s second half forcing track officials to end the race before its designated number of laps had been completely to to time limit constraints.
Sise took the win ahead of Poore, Darren Goins and Joe Crabtree.
Zach Sise in I-75 victory lane with his parents(photo from Zach Sise Facebook page)
